SPECTRE OF THE BROCKEN. 129 



associated with the objects of their idolatrous 

 worship. One of the best accounts of the spectre 

 of the Brocken is that which is given by M. Haue, 

 who saw it on the 23rd of May, 1797. After 

 having been on the summit of the mountain no 

 less than thirty times, he had at last the good 

 fortune of witnessing the object of his curiosity. 

 The sun rose about four o'clock in the morning 

 through a serene atmosphere. In the south-west, 

 towards Achtermannshohe, a brisk west wind 

 carried before it the transparent vapours, which 

 had not yet been condensed into thick heavy 

 clouds. About a quarter past four he went to- 

 wards the inn, and looked round to see whether 

 the atmosphere would afford him a free prospect 

 towards the south-west, when he observed at a 

 very great distance, towards Achtermannshohe, a 

 human figure of a monstrous size. His hat 

 having been almost carried away by a violent gust 

 of wind, he suddenly raised his hand to his head 

 to protect his hat, and the colossal figure did the 

 same. He immediately made another movement 

 by bending his body, an action which was 

 repeated by the spectral figure. M. Haue was 

 desirous of making further experiments, but the 

 figure disappeared. He remained, however, in 

 the same position, expecting its return, and in a 

 few minutes it again made its appearance on the 

 Achtermannshohe, when it mimicked his gestures 

 as before. He then called the landlord of the 

 inn, and having both taken the same position 

 which he had before, they looked towards the 

 Achtermannshohe, but saw nothing. In a very 

 short space of time, however, two colossal figures 

 were formed over the above eminence, and after 

 K 



